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Monday, October 24, 2016

Thank you for following the Snarkology Halloween Hop from Oct. 26th thru 31st for the opportunity to discover fun, great books, and awesome prizes! Please bookmark the hop landing page so you’re able to return at your leisure to trick or treating the seventy-plus participating sites.
Hop Landing Page:

If you dream of shifters, this set of 20
brand new shifter stories featuring USA Today and New York Times best-selling
authors has you covered. Whether you like them large and in charge or sleek and
sexy, you'll find the right story to spice up your night in these pages.

If Grant had his way, humans and their stupidity would
be banned from Yellowstone, leaving the shifters who knew the land to live and
take care of it. Until he meets human geologist Morgan Jenkins, who is only
working in Yellowstone until winter comes. Suddenly, the one shifter in the
park who most wanted all humans gone found he wanted one human to stay forever.

Yellowstone
National Park is known for its majestic beauty, breath taking scenic views and
the opportunity to see nature up close and personal. Park ranger Quinn loves
everything about her job. But her canny ability to find grizzlies is starting
to raise eyebrows. When she stumbles across a close encounter of the bear kind,
she is suddenly thrown into a side of Yellowstone she never imagined existed.

Brutus has
been watching his mate from afar for too long both as human and bear. But
another clans actions force him to introduce himself early then Quinn was
ready. Forced to defend his beta he brings her into his world. A world that
hangs in the balance if Quinn can’t take her rightful place as his beta.

Can the
grizzly alpha make her see that they could be hotter than the geysers at
Yellowstone or will it be too late when rival males start moving into the park?

Monday, October 17, 2016

The second sexy, Stripped Down novel from the author of Stud
for Hire.

Just south of Fort Worth, Texas, you’ll find a little ranch where the hot,
toned cowboys are ready and eager to take it all off and make your naughtiest
fantasies come true...

Satisfaction is the name of the game at the Double S Ranch, where the men are
more than willing to play. They come from all walks of life, and each has their
own reason for dancing for a lady’s pleasure.

A former Navy SEAL, Brandon Stewart started dancing after an injury in the
field put him out of commission. The power he commands when a woman’s eyes are
locked on him makes Brandon feel like the man he used to be. But when he meets
Porsche, Brandon has never felt more stripped bare.

The spirited beauty needs a handsome fake boyfriend to make another man jealous.
But Brandon is determined to prove to Porsche that pretending with him is
nothing compared to the real thing...

Dougal scampered around them, chasing dust whorls, but
Brandon’s attention was on Porsche’s face. He was loath to let her go. “So, did
you and Claire come up with any brilliant ideas?” He wasn’t truly interested,
but this was as good a ploy as any to keep her here. For a while longer at
least.

Porsche threw back her head and laughed. Her eyes sparkled
and her parted lips tantalized him. “No.

We got distracted.” She leaned closer.
“We often do.”

“What distracted you?”

She pinned an innocent look on her face. “Lisa was making
profiteroles.”

“What the hell are profiteroles?”

“Choux à la crème,” she said with a wave of her hand.

He laughed. “Still in the dark.”

“Cream puffs.”

Now that he understood. “I should probably go visit the
kitchen.”

“Good luck with that. Claire’s in there. We call her
Hooverlips.”

“That is hardly kind.”

“Maybe not. But true. She does love to eat.”

Dougal spotted another dust whorl and shot off in yet
another direction. The leash wound around their legs and they, perforce drew
closer. And damn, he loved the feel of her pressing against his chest and
groin, her smile, her laugh as she fell against him.

She gazed up into his eyes and said, “I think we’re
trapped.”

“I think so too.” But he could hardly complain. Until she
tried to wiggle free.

Then again, he did like the wiggling.

They both laughed as they became even more inextricably
entwined and then, all of a sudden,

Porsche froze. Her gaze, wide and
welcoming, snapped to his. “Oh, kiss me now,” she gushed and his heart thumped.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and went up on her tiptoes and pursed her
lips.

Though he was hardly disinclined, he was surprised. What had
incited this sudden and incongruous passion? He stared at her in shock as his
body went on point, hummed, trilled with exhilaration and excitement.

“Hurry,” she said. “He’s watching.”

He’s watching.

Well hell. His mood plummeted. He should have realized. He
should have expected as much. He was a fool for thinking she suddenly wanted to
kiss him.

He was struck with an immediate anger, and at the same time,
a scorching determination.

Kiss her?

He’d give her a kiss she would never forget.

He took her cheeks in his hands and tipped her head a bit to
the side and stared at her. “Are you ready?” he asked in a whisper.

She blinked. “I…ah…yes.”

But still, he waited, staring at her lips, so full and lush.
He’d waited so long to taste her, the anticipation itself was delicious.
Slowly, he lowered his head and he brushed his mouth over hers, a tease and
nothing more. Then he did it again.

Good God, she was delectable. Soft, sweet, a velvety
heaven. She tasted of sugar and a hint of chocolate with an undertone
of…Porsche. He wanted to sink into her. Consume her.

So he did.

He deepened the kiss, investing in it all his desire, his
hope, his passion.

And God help him, she responded.

She tightened her hold and pressed against him and made
little mewling sounds that set his body on fire.

He leaned into the kiss, bending her back, grasping for all
he could reach.

It became a conflagration, a wild storm swirling them both
in a savage whirlwind of gargantuan proportions that was—

“Ahem.”

An annoying voice came from his left. Brandon attempted to
ignore it.

“Ahem!”

He lifted his head and stared down into Porsche’s eyes. He
was gratified that she seemed dazed and boneless. Really gratified when she
reached up for another kiss. And that, of course, set him off again as well. He
couldn’t get enough.

Not ever.

“Hello? People? That’s good. You can disengage.” Claire—for
that was who it was—attempted to pull them apart.

“But Cody’s watching,” Porsche murmured, snuggling in
closer.

“He’s gone.”

To Brandon’s disgruntlement, she eased back, still staring
into his eyes. “He’s gone,” she whispered.

Her Royal Hotness, Sabrina York, is the New York Times and
USA Today Bestselling author of hot, humorous stories for smart and sexy
readers. Her titles range from
sweet & snarky to scorching romance.
Visit her webpage at www.sabrinayork.com
to check out her books, excerpts and contests. Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bj8tKb.

Friday, October 14, 2016

I am so excited to he heading up to New Hampshire for the Fall in Love with New England conference. I am looking forward to meeting new authors and readers, but mostly simply the idea of relaxing is balm to my very tired soul.

Thursday, October 13, 2016

The Bad Boys of Regret Hollow are BACK. That means an all new irresistible bad boy, loads of steamy romance, and a dash of small town shenanigans are coming your way. All books are standalone and can be read in any order. If you’re new to the series, you can dive into the first one, The Bad Boy’s Gift, for free at your favorite e-retailer. And for the month of October, book 2, The Bad Boy’s Guilt, is on sale for only $.99!

Haunted by comrades he was unable to save, Drake Miller walks away from his military career for the relaxed, quiet life of running his father’s bar in Regret Hollow. Too bad no one tipped him off that his father sold the bar.

While the townspeople treat him to a hero’s welcome that he doesn’t want and doesn’t deserve, he finds one person who doesn’t fall at his feet, calls him out for bad behavior, and kisses like a fantasy. Unfortunately, she also owns the bar that was supposed to be his.

As a single mom and small business owner, Mallory Marquette takes her commitments and responsibilities seriously. She can’t give away her livelihood just because Drake thinks he’s entitled to it—even if he is the town hero and the first man in a decade who gets her blood flowing. Besides, she needs a reliable bartender much more than she needs a lover.

Can this hero turned bad boy step up to a lifetime commitment, or will the freedom he sacrificed so much for cost him everything?

““Wait a second.” He held up a hand. “I know you.
You’re the stuck-up high school princess who was too good to give me the time
of day. Mallory Yates.” His lips curled into a sneer.

In what universe did a pizzeria waitress have anything
in common with a princess? Whatever. She couldn’t reason with guys like him.
She didn’t bother to correct him on her name, either. If not for Ryan, she’d
have returned to the Yates surname after her divorce. “I don’t know what you’re
talking about and neither do you, but thanks for showing me you’re still the
same insensitive jerk you’ve always been.”

He laughed. “You’re ever so welcome, princess.
Now are you going to spray me with that pepper spray or just intimidate me by
waving it around?”

She glanced down at the tiny bottle in her fist.
If the rumors about his capabilities were true, he could disarm her in the
blink of an eye. Regardless, he sure wasn’t the least bit intimidated.

“Neither.” She shoved the canister in her back
pocket and advanced on him. “I want you to think next time before you do
something stupid.” She shoved his chest, which proved as solid and unmoving as
a brick wall.

He grasped her hands before she could withdraw
them, trapping them against his heat. His eyes glittered in the growing
darkness.

“Sometimes thinking is overrated. I like to do
and deal with the consequences later.” He lowered his head toward her.

No way. He wouldn’t. He had as much disdain for
her as she had for him. She glared at him, refusing to call his bluff and pull
away.

His lips pressed against hers, hard and
demanding. He plunged his tongue into her mouth. She gasped as fire raced
through her veins. Clenching her fingers around the fabric of his T-shirt, she
met the demands of his mouth.

She refused to be intimidated just because he
was sexier than sin and could kiss a hell of a lot better than anyone in recent
memory or, um, in ever. Oh God, she couldn’t remember anyone else. She couldn’t
even remember her own name.

A moan tore from her throat. She bit down on his
lip then thrust her tongue, tangling it with his.

He bracketed her ribs, sliding beneath her
jacket and the hem of her shirt then over her waist and up, cupping her breast.

Holy hell. Who knew being groped could feel so
good? With one touch, she nearly believed she could leave behind stress and
responsibility and reclaim her femininity. “Fondle me, you bastard, and make it
good.”

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

In 1941, while the subject of my soon to release novella Being Krystyna was trying to survive in Nazi-occupied Poland, the Ministry of Food was attempting to persuade the population of Great Britain to try out its latest recipe. This was the famous Woolton Pie, a savory entrée not a sweet dessert, created by the chef of the Savoy Hotel, Francis Ladry, and named after Frederick Marquis, Lord Woolton. He was a former social worker and managing director, a charming and popular figure trusted by the public who had been made Minister of Food in 1940. Many
foodstuffs were strictly rationed during the war and people were encouraged to
“dig for victory” by growing their own food wherever they could. Vegetables
were readily available and the Woolton Pie took advantage of this.

Lord
Woolton promoted his pie, along with what he called the “National Loaf,” using
characters like Dr Carrot and Potato Pete, and music-hall stars Elsie and Doris
Walters (broadcasting as Gert and Daisy). There were also short films called
Food Flashes, ads in the press, and cookery slots on BBC Radio. Sadly, Lord
Woolton’s enthusiasm for the pie wasn’t matched by that of the public.

However,
the enforced changes in the nation’s diet during World War II had unforeseen
and beneficial consequences. Fat, meat, eggs, and sugar were severely rationed
and people had to eat far more vegetables than they had before the war. They
became healthier and slimmer, their lifespan increased, and infant mortality
rates declined.

There’s
a message there for us in the twenty-first century. Obesity is a major problem
now and perhaps it’s time to take the advice of Dr. Carrot and Potato Pete and
eat more veg and less fat and sugar!

Being
vegan, I don’t think the original recipe for Woolton Pie looks bad at all, but
I want to add more seasoning and ingredients. It’s an easy recipe to follow and
perhaps a good way of using up leftover vegetables. You could also throw in
“exotic” foods not used in wartime Britain, like sweet potatoes and garlic.

Lord Woolton’s Famous Pie

1 lb.
potatoes, diced

1
lb. cauliflower, chopped

1
lb. Swedes (rutabagas), peeled and diced

1
lb. carrots, scraped and diced

4
spring onions (scallions), sliced thin

1
tsp. vegetable extract.

1
tsp. oatmeal

Fresh
parsley, chopped

Readymade
pie crust or mashed potatoes

Preheat
oven to 350°F

Cook
all ingredients together in a medium saucepan with just enough water to cover
for 10 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent the mixture from sticking.

Allow
to cool.

Transfer
blend to a pie dish, sprinkle with chopped parsley. Cover with a crust of
potatoes or wholemeal pastry.

Set
dish on a cookie sheet and then bake until the pastry is nicely brown.

Serve
hot with a side bowl of brown gravy.

Look for Being Krystyna, releasing from Dilliebooks, on Amazon this winter.

Carol Browne regards Crewe, Cheshire, as her home town and graduated from Nottingham University in 1976 with an honors degree in English Language and Literature. Carol writes speculative fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. She is also a ghost blog writer, proofreader, copy editor, and copywriter. Along with a passion for gardening, Carol is an avid animal lover.
Carol lives in the Cambridgeshire countryside with her dog, Harry, and cockatiel, Sparky.Pagan and vegan, Carol believes it is time for a paradigm shift in our attitude to Mother Nature and hopes the days of speciesism are numbered.
Stay connected with Carol on her website and blog, Facebook, and Twitter.

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

The utility worker who knocked on the door handed over a
green sheet of paper and a bit of unexpected news. Due to a leak, the water
main supplying water to our house had to be repaired. The water would be shut
off for at least six hours, and we'd be under a "boil water" advisory
for a minimum of two days following the repair.

Given the severity of water issues suffered by others, the
brief interruption in our service was nothing more than a minor inconvenience.
And yet every time we reached for the faucet to fill a glass, we were reminded
of how much we take for granted in our everyday lives.

The hero of our book, Pirate Summer, learns a similar lesson
when she travels back in time two hundred years to save her brother. Josey's
thirsty, dirty, and surrounded by "water, water, everywhere, nor any drop
to drink," as the old poem goes. And – horror of horrors – her cell phone
doesn't work either.

Like Josey, we've developed a new appreciation for the value
of daily desiderata. Clean water, abundant food, a safe, warm home, people we
can trust and believe in, and who trust and believe in us — we are fortunate
indeed, and these days we make a point of taking time to recognize and acknowledge
what we once might not have noticed.

What about you? What are you taking for granted? We look
forward to reading your comments.

Fifteen year old Josey is a liar. She’d like to stop. But
after Mom left, the lies started popping out, like the time Josey left her
little brother at the library and told Dad he’d run away.

Then Josey meets a boy who tells bigger whoppers than she
does. He says he’s the son of a privateer who’s been dead two centuries. He’s
so convincing Josey’s brother believes every word and sets off to find the privateer’s
hidden treasure.

When her brother disappears, Josey is sure she knows where
he's gone. But everyone thinks she's lying again. Everyone, that is, except the
so-called privateer’s son. He knows she’s telling the truth because jeweled
riches are only part of his tale. There’s also the snooperscope, a device that
makes time leaps possible, like the one that brought him to the present.

The story is fantastical...and yet Josey will do anything to
save her brother, including traveling back in time two hundred years with a boy
she can’t trust.

Florida-based mother/daughter author duo HL Carpenter write sweet, clean fiction that is suitable for everyone in your family. The Carpenters write from their studios in Carpenter Country, a magical place that, like their stories, is unreal but not untrue. When they’re not writing, they enjoy exploring the Land of What-If and practicing the fine art of Curiosity. Visit their website to enjoy gift reads and excerpts and to find out what’s happening in Carpenter Country.
Stay connected on Pinterest, Linkedin, Google+, and their Amazon Author Page.

Monday, October 10, 2016

The Last Time Keepers and the Dark Secret
Book 2 in the The Last Timekeepers series.

This new release fits into Middle Grade, Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy, WWII genres and is an excellent read for everyone ten years old through adulthood. The release date is October 17, 2016 from Mirror World Publishing

Are you ready to see the cover?

Fabulous, right?

Now here's a brief intro.

Only a true hero can shine the light in humanity’s darkest time.

Fourteen year-old Jordan Jensen always considered himself a team player on and off the field, until the second Timekeeper mission lands him in Amsterdam during World War Two. Pulled into the world of espionage, torture, and intolerance, Jordan and the rest of the Timekeepers have no choice but to stay one step ahead of the Nazis in order to find and protect a mysterious book.

With the help of the Dutch Resistance, an eccentric baron, Nordic runes, and an ancient volume originating from Atlantis, Jordan must learn that it takes true teamwork, trust, and sacrifice to keep time safe from the evils of fascism. Can Jordan find the hero within to conquer the darkness surrounding the Timekeepers? If he doesn’t, then the terrible truth of what the Nazis did will never see the light of day.

EXCERPT

“I
wonder what else is down here.” Drake beamed his cell phone across the
basement, hitting jars of jams, pickles, and relishes. His stomach growled.

Jordan
pulled the cheese from his pocket and handed it to Drake. “Trade you for your
phone.”

“Best.
Trade. Ever.” Drake passed his phone to Jordan.

Jordan
walked over and grabbed a jar of pickles off the dusty shelf. At least they
wouldn’t arrive at the baron’s place hungry. He hoped his uncle had managed to
stop Amanda’s bleeding. His hand tightened over the jar, the ridges of the lid
cutting into his palm. A scrape from behind the shelves made Jordan jump.

“Hello?”
he asked, pushing jars aside. He flashed the cell phone into the small, dark
area.

“Who
ya talking to, Jordan?” Drake asked with his mouth full of cheese.

“I
thought I heard—” Jordan stopped and pointed the phone at Ravi. His jaw
dropped. “A-Are you serious, Sharma?”

Drake
spat out his cheese, snorting with laughter.

“Is
there a problem?” Ravi asked, tying the bowtie of his tuxedo.

“You
look like a penguin with attitude!” Drake slapped his knee.

“Say
what you want, but I’m glad we didn’t hit the cleaners on the way to school
now,” Ravi replied, pulling down his sleeves, “or else I wouldn’t have these
dry clothes.”

Jordan
chuckled. Suddenly, he heard a door creak open, followed by heavy footsteps
squeaking down the stairs. Panicking, Jordan stuffed Drake’s phone in his track
suit jacket’s pocket and waved Drake over by the shelves. Drake slipped behind
Jordan just in time, before the small light bulb above the bottom of the stairs
clicked on. Jordan swallowed hard. There, staring directly at Ravi was a portly
man in a blood-stained apron. Tufts of blond hair sprouted from the sides of
his balding head. His brown trousers were pulled up past his waist, making him
resemble an evil garden gnome. In one of his hands, he held a huge butcher
knife, its blade flecked with blood.

Wielding
the knife, the man pointed at Ravi. “Who are you?”

Ravi
licked his thick lips nervously. “The name’s Bond. James Bond.”

Sharon Ledwith is the author of the middle-grade/YA time travel series, THE LAST TIMEKEEPERS, available through Mirror World Publishing, and is represented by Walden House (Books & Stuff) for her teen psychic series, MYSTERIOUS TALES FROM FAIRY FALLS. When not writing, researching, or revising, she enjoys reading, exercising, anything arcane, and an occasional dram of scotch. Sharon lives a serene, yet busy life in a southern tourist region of Ontario, Canada, with her hubby, one spoiled yellow Labrador and a moody calico cat.

Today, October 10, and October
11 book one of The Turning Stone Chronicles, The
Promised Oneis free! Get
yours today and start on the shape shifter adventure of three ancient Celtic
families. A magical Bloodstone that enables the wearers to shape shift. A
charge to use the stone’s power to benefit mankind, and a battle, that is going
on even today, to control the world. Can the Secret Society of shape shifters
called the Turning Stone Society heal itself and bring peace to our world? Find
out in The Series The Turning Stone
Chronicles.

The
Promised One (The Turning Stone Chronicles)

In
the wrong hands, the Turning Stone ring is a powerful weapon for evil. So, when
homicide detective Alexi Jordan discovers her secret society mentor has been
murdered and his magic ring stolen, she is forced to use her shape-shifting
powers to catch the killer. By doing so, she risks the two most important
things in her life—her badge and the man she loves.

Rhys
Temple always knew his fiery cop partner and would-be-girlfriend, Alexi Jordan,
had a few secrets. He considers that part of her charm. But when she changes
into a man, he doesn’t find that as charming. He’ll keep her secret to keep her
safe, but he’s not certain he can keep up a relationship—professional or
personal.

Danny
Shaw needs cash for the elaborate wedding his fiancée has planned, so he goes
on a mugging spree. But when he kills a member of the secret society of Turning
Stones, and steals a magic ring that gives him the power to shape shift, Shaw
gets more than he bargained for.

EXCERPT:

The
woman stared at him, blood seeping from the corner of her mouth. “Return the
ring, or you’ll be sorry.”

With
a short laugh he stood. “Big words for someone bleeding to death.” After
dropping the ring into his pocket, he gathered the scattered contents of her
purse, and started to leave.

Shaw
frowned and spun back toward her. The pounding in his chest increased. On the
ground, where the woman had fallen, lay a man.

He
wore the same slinky blue dress she had—the seams ripped, the dress top
collapsed over hard chest muscles, instead of smoothed over soft, rounded
curves. The hem skimmed across a pair of hairy, thick thighs. Muscled male
thighs. Spiked heels hung at an odd angle, toes jutting through the shoe
straps. The same shoes she’d been wearing.

The
alley tipped. Shaw leaned against the dumpster to steady himself. He shook his
head to clear the vision, then slowly moved his gaze over the body.

A
pair of steel-blue eyes stared out of a chiseled face edged with a trim
salt-and-pepper beard. Shaw whirled around scanning the alley.

Where
was the woman? And who the hell was this guy?

Terrified,
Shaw fled.

The
dying man called out, “You’re cursed. Forever.”

Don’t
miss the first of this series that InD’tale
said “takes paranormal and turns it on its ear, taking shape-shifting to a
whole other level.”

Books
two through four of the series are available for purchase at Amazon, so you
don’t have to wait to read more about the secret society of shape shifters as
they battle for control of the world.

Blood Brothers, book two:

Shape
shifter Delaney Ramsey’s daughter is missing, and she is bound by honor to
protect the man she suspects of the deed. To bring him to justice, she must go
against her code, the leader of the secret shifter society, and the police
captain she is falling for.

Thrust
back into the world of paranormal huntress, Deputy Coroner Katrina Romanovski
must unravel a string of murders she believes are vampire attacks. When she
discovers the shape shifter she’s in love with is the murderer, she must
reconcile her feelings for him, examine her life of violence against
paranormals, and justify deceiving him in order to bring him to justice.

A
desperate call from an ex-military buddy lands a mercenary soldier in the
middle of a double kidnapping, caught in an ancient shape shifter war, and
ensnared between two female shape shifters after the same thing ... him.